TAKING STEPS TO WORK SAFELY AT HEIGHT

The Construction Industry Advisory Council (CONIAC) has launched a new set of guidance aimed at ensuring work at height is carried out safely.

Safety Steps is free to access and use, and it is hosted at:

accessindustryforum.org.uk/safety-steps The guidance is split into five sections covering designers, clients, managers, supervisors and workers and is designed to general information on work at height targeted at the different audiences. The intention is that this can then be used as a resource to help with producing material such as toolbox talks, checklists, rules, guidelines, etc.

Some examples of the messages contained within this guidance include;

• For designers to avoid designs that lead to unnecessary, readily avoidable or unsafe work at height
• For clients to make available site safety related information such as. fragile roofs, difficult access, unprotected edges, confined spaces, electrical or other services, holes in floors etc.
• For managers to ensure that there is a site-specific risk assessment and safe system of work before work at height starts
• For supervisors to check if the relevant risks have been assessed and that there is a safe system of work in place
• For workers to understand rescue equipment and procedures, where this is relevant

Where it is reasonably practical work at height should be avoided, for example by doing as much work as possible from the ground.

Where work at height can’t be avoided to prevent falls or minimise the distance and consequences of a fall if they do occur. This can include making sure that equipment and workplaces are suitable, stable and strong enough for the job, maintained and checked regularly and making sure workers can safely get to and from work at height.

Please speak to your normal PIB Risk Management contact or get in touch using Email: [email protected]  if you have any questions about the safety working at height or would like assistance with developing training materials, policies and checklists for use in your workplace.